Wildlife decoy

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wildlife decoy form and associated decoy. The wildlife decoy form includes a head section and a tail section with at least one longitudinal support coupled to the head and tail sections extending along a longitudinal, peripheral portion of the decoy form. A plurality of circumferential ribs is attached to the longitudinal supports at spaced locations thereon with each circumferential rib extending along a peripheral portion of the decoy. To form the decoy, a skin is attached to the decoy form and overlays at least a portion of each of the supports and ribs of the decoy form.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wildlife decoy form comprising: a head section;   a tail section;   at least one longitudinal support coupled to said head section and said tail section extending along a longitudinal, peripheral portion of said decoy form around a single hollow interior; and   a plurality of circumferential ribs attached to each said longitudinal support at spaced locations thereon, wherein each said circumferential rib extends along a peripheral portion of said decoy form around said single hollow interior, wherein said single hollow interior extends substantially the length of said decoy form between said head section and said tail section.   
     
     
       2. The decoy form of claim 1 wherein said plurality of circumferential ribs is substantially parallel to each other and wherein said decoy form includes two of said longitudinal supports. 
     
     
       3. The decoy form of claim 2 wherein said two longitudinal supports include an upper longitudinal support extending along an upper peripheral portion of said decoy form, and a lower longitudinal support extending along a lower peripheral portion of said decoy form. 
     
     
       4. The decoy form of claim 3 wherein each said circumferential rib extends from said upper longitudinal support to said lower longitudinal support. 
     
     
       5. The decoy form of claim 1 wherein each said rib is formed of wood. 
     
     
       6. The decoy form of claim 5 wherein each said longitudinal support is formed of wood. 
     
     
       7. The decoy form of claim 2 wherein said head section is a carved wooden head section. 
     
     
       8. The decoy form of claim 1 wherein said decoy is a waterfowl. 
     
     
       9. A wildlife decoy comprising: a wildlife decoy form including   a head section,   a tail section,   at least one longitudinal support coupled to said head section and said tail section extending along a longitudinal, peripheral portion of said decoy around a single hollow interior, and   a plurality of substantially parallel, circumferential ribs attached to each said longitudinal support at spaced locations thereon, wherein each said circumferential rib extends along a peripheral portion of said decoy around a single hollow interior; and   a skin attached to said decoy form and overlaying at least a portion of each said support and each said circumferential rib around said single hollow interior, wherein said single hollow interior extends substantially the length of said decoy form between said head section and said tail section.   
     
     
       10. The decoy of claim 9 wherein said skin is a waterproof canvas skin. 
     
     
       11. The wildlife decoy of claim 9 wherein said head section is a carved wooden head section. 
     
     
       12. The decoy of claim 9 further including a ballast weight provided within said hollow interior. 
     
     
       13. The decoy of claim 12 wherein said ballast weight is positioned off the longitudinal center plane of said decoy. 
     
     
       14. The decoy of claim 9 further including a buoyancy-assisting means positioned within said hollow interior. 
     
     
       15. The decoy of claim 9 further including at least one grommet positioned within said skin for selectively flooding said hollow interior. 
     
     
       16. The decoy of claim 9 wherein said decoy includes two of said longitudinal supports, including an upper longitudinal support extending along an upper peripheral portion of said decoy form, and a lower longitudinal support extending along a lower peripheral portion of said decoy form. 
     
     
       17. The decoy of claim 16 wherein each said circumferential rib extends from said upper longitudinal support to said lower longitudinal support. 
     
     
       18. A waterfowl buoyant decoy comprising: a waterfowl decoy form including   a head section,   a tail section,   an upper longitudinal support attached to said head section and said tail section extending along an upper longitudinal, peripheral portion of said decoy along a longitudinal centerline of said decoy around a single hollow interior,   a lower longitudinal support coupled to said head section and said tail section extending along a lower longitudinal, peripheral portion of said decoy along said longitudinal center plane around said single hollow interior,   a pair of side supports extending from a front of said decoy form to said tail section, said side supports extending along a peripheral portion of said decoy substantially along a plan profile of said decoy around said single hollow interior, and   a plurality of wooden, substantially parallel circumferential ribs attached to and extending between said upper and lower longitudinal supports at spaced locations thereon, each said rib extending along a peripheral portion of said decoy around said single hollow interior, wherein said ribs and said upper and lower longitudinal supports and said side supports define said single, continuous hollow interior which extends substantially from said front of said decoy form to said tail section; and   a waterproof skin attached to said form, said skin overlaying said ribs, said side supports and said longitudinal supports substantially surrounding said single hollow interior.   
     
     
       19. The waterfowl buoyant decoy of claim 18 wherein said head section is a carved wooden head section.